High drama on C-SPAN2 right now--Feingold-Collins amendment

[longship]

The Repukes are trying a power play on the Feingold-Collins amendment, reauthorizing oversight of Iraq reconstruction. ND Dem Kent Conrad is livid. He is threatening to hold up the Senate and bring things to a crawl (by Dems withholding unanimous consent motions?).

The specifics are Akaka/Conrad adding farmer drought relief to the bill. Senator Gregg/Hutchinson opposing. Gregg threatened to invoke Rule 16. Conrad went into high dudgeon and threatened to withdraw support for unanimous consent. Things have basically blown up in the Repubs' faces.

Right now they're on a quorum call after the horror-struck Hutchinson basically went speechless in the face of the fact that Democrats might actually pull the trigger.

This is high drama.

If this is any indication of the new emboldened Democratic Senate, we're going to be in for quite a ride, even in this lame duck session.

Go Dems! Go!

on edit: clarification. More clarification.

[Lex]

1. Are they trying to sneak in something?

What is the thing they are trying to sneak in exactly, if so?

[longship]

4. I'm not sure.

I've been in and out. I think they're trying to set aside the Feingold-Collins amendment, which has pretty good bipartisan support (including McCain, Collins, and a few other Reps, as well as broad support by the Dems).

[AlCzervik]

7. i think this is it, it's old but it might be the one-link

http://www.feingold.senate.gov/releases/05/07/SIGIR.html

[longship]

18. It *is* F-C amendment. Corrected in OP.

:kick:

[ClintonTyree]

19. I think ANWR is automatically attached to every bit of ......

Republican legislation. It's been this way for the past 2 years. Look closely, it's there. ;)

[Ian David]

31. ANWAR was hidden in the National Broccoli Day Proclamation...

along with authorization to use force on American cities (at least, according to The Simpsons).

[spuddonna]

41. You there! Front Line Infantry!! n/t

[KyndCulture]

2. yee haw! let the games begin.

[Rainscents]

64. I love your dancing Donkey's!!!

They soooo cute!

[AlCzervik]

3. hey is this the ammed. to keep that oversight office in Iraq?

[Lex]

10. Crazy, isn't it?

That the Repukes don't want any oversight on how the money is being spent in Iraq.

Just shows what crooks they are. I wonder what will be found when a little light is finally shone on how the money has been handled.

[Ian David]

32. Reminds me of "The Saturday Night Massacre"

Saturday night massacre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The "Saturday Night Massacre" (October 20, 1973) was the term given by political commentators to U.S. President Richard Nixon's executive dismissal of independent special prosecutor Archibald Cox, and the forced resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus during the Watergate scandal.

Cox was appointed by Richardson after Richardson gave assurances to the Senate Judiciary Committee that he would appoint an independent counsel to investigate the events surrounding the Watergate break-in of June 17, 1972. Cox had earlier issued a subpoena to President Nixon, asking for copies of taped conversations which Nixon had made in the Oval Office as evidence. Nixon initially refused to comply with the subpoena, but on October 19, 1973, he offered what was later known as the Stennis Compromise – asking U.S. Senator John C. Stennis to review and summarize the tapes for the special prosecutor's office.

Cox refused the compromise that same evening, and it was believed that there would be a short rest in the legal maneuvering while government offices were closed for the weekend. However, President Nixon acted to dismiss Cox from his office the next night – a Saturday. He contacted Attorney General Richardson and ordered him to fire the special prosecutor. Richardson refused, and instead resigned in protest. Nixon then ordered Deputy Attorney General Ruckelshaus to fire Cox; he, too, refused and was fired by Nixon.

Nixon then contacted the Solicitor General, Robert Bork, and ordered him as acting head of the Justice Department to fire Cox. Richardson and Ruckelshaus had both personally assured the congressional committee overseeing the special prosecutor investigation that they would not interfere – Bork had made no such assurance to the committee. Bork complied with Nixon's order and fired Cox.

More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Massacre

[lovuian]

5. LOL!!! Kick some booty

:kick:

[gratuitous]

6. By definition . . .

I don't trust anything the Republicans are proposing for this lame duck session. Just on principle, and based on their extensive track record. Congress should just go home now and wait for the new year. They only scheduled 94 legislative days this year prior to the election; if they wanted to get something done, they had plenty of time during the first 10 months of the year.

Shut 'em down.

[Graybeard]

8. With mics turned off you could see...

...Conrad nose to nose with Bailey Hutchinson...pointing his
finger in her face ...just giving her hell. You are right, we
don't see passion like this very often on the Senate floor. 

[lpbk2713]

12. The rats are backed up into a corner, they know it, and I love it.

And it will be like this for a few years!!!

[thereismore]

20. one disgusting lardass (in your sig line). nt

[SouthernBelle82]

9. Wow

Do you think there will be a replay or any video clips? Why is it that republicans are such bad losers? That's what this seems like to me anyways looking from the outside. It might not be but just a wild guess. Why is it they can tell us to "Get over it" but they can't? :shrug:

[Goblinmonger]

11. It's Kent Conrad (D-ND) not SD

Just to give props to the state I grew up in. Not to mention that the whole state did an eyeroll when you typed that. Good news is that it ain't that many people.

[longship]

14. Corrected.

I should have known that.

[LSK]

13. real audio stream not available

:shrug:

[lander]

15. I get "this stream is not available" — is it over? n/t

[LSK]

17. try the windows media stream

I got audio. They are in quarum call right now.

[judaspriestess]

16. Good for him. Someone should be pointing their

finger in that whore's face. Too bad he can't slap her for the whole country. She is a fine example of what is wrong with Texas.

[melissinha]

57. amen, I hate my Senator!

She is nothing but a Republican Dallas-bouffant haired shill.

You go Conrad!

[texpatriot2004]

58. Hutchison is a crook and she is a horrid "Representative" nm

[tavalon]

59. Amen

I'm from Texas (wow, that is such a wonderful thing to say. I don't live there anymore. I've been wanting to be "from" there instead of actually there for so many years) and I hated her from day one. She didn't represent me at all and she always sent bullshit form letters whenever I would attempt to get her to respond.

[texpatriot2004]

61. You too huh? It took her 8-10 weeks or more to send a form ltr to

me that spoke to NONE of the issues I wrote to her about in the first place.

[tavalon]

63. Yup

It got to the point where I dreaded those requests to send letters to our Senators. It felt so pointless and sometimes I even refused to do it because of the pointlessness.

[melissinha]

68. yep 2-3 months later is standard for her, tho Cronyn doesn't send any

Its so lame that I can't even remember what I wrote her in the first place.

THOUGH Cronyn NEVER sends letters ... he doesn't even try

[texpatriot2004]

70. They are both crooks and Cornyn is a theif nm

[bobbolink]

21. There are times I really miss having a teevee... during KO, and

now this!

Any updates would be much appreciated.

Thanks for the post!

:hi:

[tavalon]

60. Yup, those are the times I miss, too.

One other - The Daily Show.

[bobbolink]

67. Moyers, Stewart and Colbert, KO and C-Span

When I see it as a list, it's worth having a TV. :hi:

Oh yeah, and one or two good entertainment shows... Boston Legal comes to mind. :)

[AnnInLa]

69. Boston Legal is THE best

I missed it last night....but, it is not quite as "liberal" as last year? (Pardon the interruption in the C-Span discussion.)

[bobbolink]

72. ~~chortle~~ when I first saw it, I thought it was too weird...

but, I guess I've grown in weirdness, cuz I really like it now. :)

Dunno about this year, cuz I'm without a TV. :(

[longship]

22. You should have heard Conrad!!!

Kent Conrad was in high dudgeon! He made it very clear that they were ready to go all the way on this. Kay Bailey Hutchinson had the floor and basically turned into a lump of jelly. With a look of creaping horror on her face, all she could do is to call for a quorum.

[Hippo_Tron]

23. I love their listing of the defeated incumbent Senators

And the music they are playing while they do it.

[longship]

28. Prokofiev Symphony #5, one of my favs.

If the music sounds good, it *is* good.
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington

[Vinca]

24. Conrad is trying to tack emergency drought relief for farmers onto the

bill for funding for Iraqi reconstruction (I think that was the original bill). Gregg got up and bloviated about "this is what the people got when they cast their votes, spending right out of the gate, yada, yada, yada." I'm paraphrasing. Then Gregg said he was going to invoke Rule 16 and that's when Conrad said he would bring the place to a crawl if they were going to be treated like that and threatened to tack the drought relief onto an upcoming Vietnam bill timed to Shrub's visit.

[longship]

25. Thank you.

As I posted. I was in an out and did not get all the particulars of just which amendment was being discussed.

Thank you for clarification.

[Norquist Nemesis]

39. Rule 16???

Is that the nuclear option or something else? :shrug:

[Vinca]

55. Here ya go.

Standing Rules of the Senate
RULE XVI
APPROPRIATIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
1. On a point of order made by any Senator, no amendments shall be received to any general appropriation bill the effect of which will be to increase an appropriation already contained in the bill, or to add a new item of appropriation, unless it be made to carry out the provisions of some existing law, or treaty stipulation, or act or resolution previously passed by the Senate during that session; or unless the same be moved by direction of the Committee on Appropriations or of a committee of the Senate having legislative jurisdiction of the subject matter, or proposed in pursuance of an estimate submitted in accordance with law.

2. The Committee on Appropriations shall not report an appropriation bill containing amendments to such bill proposing new or general legislation or any restriction on the expenditure of the funds appropriated which proposes a limitation not authorized by law if such restriction is to take effect or cease to be effective upon the happening of a contingency, and if an appropriation bill is reported to the Senate containing amendments to such bill proposing new or general legislation or any such restriction, a point of order may be made against the bill, and if the point is sustained, the bill shall be recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

3. All amendments to general appropriation bills moved by direction of a committee having legislative jurisdiction of the subject matter proposing to increase an appropriation already contained in the bill, or to add new items of appropriation, shall, at least one day before they are considered, be referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and when actually proposed to the bill no amendment proposing to increase the amount stated in such amendment shall be received on a point of order made by any Senator.

4. On a point of order made by any Senator, no amendment offered by any other Senator which proposes general legislation shall be received to any general appropriation bill, nor shall any amendment not germane or relevant to the subject matter contained in the bill be received; nor shall any amendment to any item or clause of such bill be received which does not directly relate thereto; nor shall any restriction on the expenditure of the funds appropriated which proposes a limitation not authorized by law be received if such restriction is to take effect or cease to be effective upon the happening of a contingency; and all questions of relevancy of amendments under this rule, when raised, shall be submitted to the Senate and be decided without debate; and any such amendment or restriction to a general appropriation bill may be laid on the table without prejudice to the bill.

5. On a point of order made by any Senator, no amendment, the object of which is to provide for a private claim, shall be received to any general appropriation bill, unless it be to carry out the provisions of an existing law or a treaty stipulation, which shall be cited on the face of the amendment.

6. When a point of order is made against any restriction on the expenditure of funds appropriated in a general appropriation bill on the ground that the restriction violates this rule, the rule shall be construed strictly and, in case of doubt, in favor of the point of order.

7. Every report on general appropriation bills filed by the Committee on Appropriations shall identify with particularity each recommended amendment which proposes an item of appropriation which is not made to carry out the provisions of an existing law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution previously passed by the Senate during that session.

8. On a point of order made by any Senator, no general appropriation bill or amendment thereto shall be received or considered if it contains a provision reappropriating unexpended balances of appropriations; except that this provision shall not apply to appropriations in continuation of appropriations for public works on which work has commenced.

(Note: Conrad's point was that the Republicans have tacked stuff on ad nauseum, usually in the middle of the night, and that they should allow an emergency measure to be added as that has been done in the past.)

[Tigress DEM]

66. This bill is I believe to RETAIN Oversite on the mess in Iraq.

*ush is trying to throw the oversight committee under the bus, because of course it isn't the vile and nasty things that they are doing over there or the way they waste the money that matters, it is the fault of the people telling the truth in the administration's eyes.

SO it needs to pass if that is the case.

I don't like hearing about all the stupid stuff they are doing over there, but in the long range the accountablity can't take place without oversite.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

26. the music c-span is playing during the quorum call sounds ominous

[AlCzervik]

27. it does, it's stormy sounding.

[gkhouston]

29. LOL, I wonder who gets to pick it. n/t

[lcordero2]

30. Welcome

Welcome to the FIGHTING WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY!!!!!!!

[longship]

33. Show is not back on.

KBH stood up for a unanimous consent request. It had nothing to do with the big drama. She then immediately put the Senate back into the quorum call.

[LSK]

36. lovely classical music they had on during break

:)

[longship]

38. Prokofiev Symphony #5

nt

[ThomWV]

42. The thunderous music of frontal assult

I noticed that too ....

[LSK]

34. they are back!!!

[LSK]

35. and gone again, nevermind

[in_cog_ni_to]

37. Hutchinson just came back and called for a quorom again. Will the same debate

continue?

[longship]

40. I think it has to.

They are in negotiations now, I guess.

[Greeby]

43. Magic Arlen introducing a bill now nt

[Lex]

44. What the hell is Specter talking about?

:shrug:

[Graybeard]

45. Sen. Feinstein just asked the same question...LOL

..."excuse me, but what bill are you talking about?"

[Lex]

47. Feinstein and DU'er Lex still confused by Specter.

LOL!

I'm glad she doesn't trust whatever he's going on about, either.

[LSK]

50. you got me

:shrug:

[longship]

46. Spector and Feinstein now engaging in colloquy

on a different matter -- on warrant-less wiretapping power.

[Norquist Nemesis]

48. Ohhhh, gotta go tune in!!!

See ya'll tomorrow!

[Lex]

49. . . . or "wireless warrant-tapping" as Specter said

before he corrected himself.

[MazeRat7]

51. Every time I watch I am just amazed "anything" ever gets done there...

I mean really... talk about bureaucratic inertia... wow.

MZr7

[napi21]

52. Jusst flashed across the bottom on the screen that the Sgt. at arms

has been sent out to look for absent Senators! Hmm, guess some are too pi**ed to come back!

[Skidmore]

53. Well, the lame ducks are limping to the winter ponds.

[Avalux]

54. They're voting for absent Senators to return. All "ayes" so far, lol.

:D

[Graybeard]

56. Sen. Doofus Allen - Va. voted "no"...

...he returned to the floor to vote no about returning to the
floor..!?

[jgraz]

62. D'oh -- is anybody recording this?

I hate having to work :/

[Nictuku]

65. CSPAN NOW

Press confrence w/Susan Collins and Feingold

[helderheid]

71. 1 or 2